GREENWOOD – Selectman Ivan Roberts told the board on Tuesday that the coffer dam in Round Pond was finished and ready for testing.

The coffer dam is necessary because the Alder River Dam has a crack and holes in the sluice gate and the berms on either side are weak.

Town Manager Carol Whitman said the coffer dam cost about $4,500. She said on Saturday engineers, expected to bid on the dam repair work, and a representative from Maine Emergency Management Agency would be there.

Selectmen said once they get repair estimates from the engineers, they favored sending a letter to Woodstock to ask the town to share in the cost.

“I met with HUD (Housing and Urban Development) and they told me we qualify for low interest loans,” Roberts said. “They said they will try to find grants for us and look for a 60-40 deal – 60 percent loan and 40 percent grant.”

In other business, selectmen approved drafts of letters by town attorney Alan Perry concerning two residents whose junkyards are not in compliance with state law.

The first letter will be sent to Douglas Grover thanking him for allowing an inspection of his Rowe Hill property, adding that there are cleanup problems with vehicles, tires, batteries and containers of antifreeze and that a storage building and fence must be built within 90 days.

The other draft asks Malcolm D. McLean Jr. to sign an agreement agreeing to build a fence, store no more than six unregistered vehicles and pay for the town’s attorney fees incurred by trying to get him in compliance in 2003.

If both parties do not comply with the requests they face fines from the town.

Selectmen also heard a proposal from Roberts that a regulation be put in town policy regarding employees that makes talking about politics, other employees or town officials, while being paid by the town, a cause for termination.

Selectman Wayne Hakala agreed and suggested referencing Maine Municipal Association material for similar guidelines.

Copy the Story Link